OFFICIAL OFF SEASON THREAD ( 2017 )

[Bmurph]

• Apart from adding a starter, the Rangers’ priority this winter is to find a center fielder, as Jeff Wilson of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram writes. Ian Desmondand Carlos Gomez both are candidates to return after their stints in Texas, with GM Jon Daniels noting that “they have kind of a similar profile.” Indeed, there are quite a few similarities, extending from their eye-popping tool sets to some inconsistencies in production. The GM offered praise for both, noting that Gomez is more experienced playing center while Desmond — who he says he “spent a lot more time around” — impressed him greatly “as a person and [with] the consistency he brought from that standpoint.” Presumably, Texas will also at least consider other options, including Dexter Fowler and potential trade candidates.

 

[Duane1952]

Buzz is out as Rangers' play by play man and Dave Raymond will take over with Tom Griever.

Not much of an upgrade. Someone here on the hoop could do better than Raymond.

 

[jaar01]

So here is a question for everyone: Our great 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre is poised to become the 31st player in MLB history to get to 3000 hits sometime during the 2017 season. In other Dallas area sports Dirk Nowitzki is poised to become the 6th player in NBA history to cross the 30,000 point threshold sometime during the current season.

So, in your opinion, what is the more impressive sporting feat and why: Beltre getting to 3000 hits or Dirk getting to 30,000 points? Both amazing accomplishments but curious how the SportsHoopla members see it.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

• impressed him greatly “as a person and [with] the consistency he brought from that standpoint.”

so he was consistently a person? the fuck?

 

[saddles]

Lucas Harrell, Shawn Tolleson Elect Free Agency

By Steve Adams | October 28, 2016 at 12:26pm CDT

Rangers right-handers Lucas Harrell and Shawn Tolleson have rejected outright assignments and been granted free agency, per a pair of announcements from the team. Both right-handers finished out the year on the 60-day disabled list and were outrighted earlier this week.

The drop-off for Tolleson is somewhat startling. Entering the season, the 28-year-old had established himself as the Rangers’ closer after turning in a terrific 2014 season in a setup role and stepping into the ninth inning in a similarly excellent 2015 season. From 2014-15, Tolleson tossed 144 innings and logged 35 saves, averaging 9.1 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 with a 41.4 percent ground-ball rate. The 2016 season, however, yielded dreadful results, as he limped to a 7.68 ERA with a dramatically diminished 7.2 K/9 in just 36 1/3 innings. Tolleson was at one point optioned to the minors, and his season came to a close on Aug. 23 when a back injury landed him on the 60-day disabled list.

Tolleson’s bottom-line results were awful, but there’s also reason to express optimism. He maintained his velocity, averaging 93 mph on his heater, and his control (2.5 BB/9) was once again solid. Furthermore, he recorded a career-best 52 percent ground-ball rate. The primary reasons for Tolleson’s downfall were a .372 BABIP and, more alarmingly, a 24.2% homer-to-flyball rate that resulted in an average two home runs per nine innings pitched. While those numbers aren’t appealing, a HR/FB rate at that level is almost certain to regress in future seasons. And Tolleson will pitch all of next season at the age of 29, so there’s little reason to assume that his sudden and rapid decline was related to his age. A team that signs Tolleson would be able to control him for both the 2017 and 2018 seasons, as he’s still arbitration eligible.

Harrell, meanwhile, joined the Rangers in a fairly curious summer trade with the Braves. The Rangers shipped prospect Travis Demeritte to Atlanta in exchange for Harrell and left-hander Dario Alvarez (who remains in the organization), and the returns on Harrell weren’t pretty. The 31-year-old, who spent the 2015 season pitching in the Korea Baseball Organization, made just four starts for Texas and surrendered 11 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings before he, too, incurred a season-ending injury (groin strain). All told, he finished up the season with a 4.21 ERA, 6.9 K/9, 4.8 BB/9 and a 44.3 percent ground-ball rate in 47 innings of work between the two teams. Harrell should find interest as a depth option this winter, though given his rocky 2016 and lack of a track record — 4.77 ERA in 448 2/3 innings — it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll be promised a rotation spot anywhere heading into the 2017 season.

I really think Tolleson is a very good candidate to bounce back in 2017 and I really wish we could have come to an agreement with him.

 

[DT LUNA]

Not much of an upgrade. Someone here on the hoop could do better than Raymond.

He will make baseball great again. lol haha

 

[DT LUNA]

I really think Tolleson is a very good candidate to bounce back in 2017 and I really wish we could have come to an agreement with him.

Kinda agree with ya. Not as a closer but short stints. Like to see a minor league contract on the cheap.

 

[saddles]

So here is a question for everyone: Our great 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre is poised to become the 31st player in MLB history to get to 3000 hits sometime during the 2017 season. In other Dallas area sports Dirk Nowitzki is poised to become the 6th player in NBA history to cross the 30,000 point threshold sometime during the current season.

So, in your opinion, what is the more impressive sporting feat and why: Beltre getting to 3000 hits or Dirk getting to 30,000 points? Both amazing accomplishments but curious how the SportsHoopla members see it.

When you compare one being the 6th person to do something to one being the 31st person to do something you might want to say the first one is more rare. Then when you consider how many more baseball players there have been than basketball players it makes it much harder. I am not nearly enough of a basketball fan as I would need to be to have a legitimate opinion about this. As a fan though I tend to hold Dirk in higher regard simply because he played here his whole career. That doesn't mean Beltre's accomplishment isn't better than Dirk's though. I couldn't say.

 

[saddles]

Kinda agree with ya. Not as a closer but short stints. Like to see a minor league contract on the cheap.

I think I would give him a split contract with a promise that if he didn't make the club by a certain date that we would allow him to find another team.

 

[saddles]

I agree with ya. But even so, is it an impossible task to get someone other than Josh to even be competent?

Maybe at some point they can raise the broadcast budget.

 

[donaldson79]

Maybe at some point they can raise the broadcast budget.

This is what has me so perplexed regarding this situation: How can the Rangers get the radio side so correct and totally screw the pooch on the TV side? Holtz/Nadel was as good as anyone. Nadel is in the Hall-of-Fame for heavens sake. Jared Sandler is darn good and look forward to hearing him for years. Yet we've been subjected to Busby/TAG, McLemore, and now this num-nut fool Raymond. Just don't understand this.

IMO at least part of the problem is WAY too many former players involved. Obviously Raymond never played Little League, so he doesn't count.

 

[donaldson79]

It's ok, leave it to me to be the a-hole.

Naw......I gave Buzz an F and Dave a D-........You weren't so much the hole as you may think. ha ha

 

[saddles]

This is what has me so perplexed regarding this situation: How can the Rangers get the radio side so correct and totally screw the pooch on the TV side? Holtz/Nadel was as good as anyone. Nadel is in the Hall-of-Fame for heavens sake. Jared Sandler is darn good and look forward to hearing him for years. Yet we've been subjected to Busby/TAG, McLemore, and now this num-nut fool Raymond. Just don't understand this.

IMO at least part of the problem is WAY too many former players involved. Obviously Raymond never played Little League, so he doesn't count.

Maybe Nadel's contract keeps them from adding very much more to the broadcast budget. They are using a huge chunk of the budget on one guy. lol

 

[donaldson79]

Maybe Nadel's contract keeps them from adding very much more to the broadcast budget. They are using a huge chunk of the budget on one guy. lol

Frankly, I don't have a clue about the "broadcasting budget" or TV vs Radio side. You seem to have knowledge of this. So give it up. Percentage wise, what does Mr Nadel take up?

 

[jaar01]

If anyone is watching the WS the home plate ump, John Hirschbeck, is screwing the Indians so badly you'd think he had money on the game.

 

[Bmurph]

Hendricks pitched well, Grimm came in and got a huge DP off the bat of Lindor and now Edwards has 2 outs in the 6th.

 

[Bmurph]

Coco Puff w a RBI and Rajai Davis w a Rangersesque stupid baserunning move

 

[donaldson79]

If anyone is watching the WS the home plate ump, John Hirschbeck, is screwing the Indians so badly you'd think he had money on the game.

Apparently he didn't have that much. Or either not enough. ha

 

[Kelleyman]

Maybe at some point they can raise the broadcast budget.

Or maybe his option for resigning hims was too high. Had to DFA himand perhaps we can renegotiate. Hopiing the the Rangers don't rue the day because Buzz refused to broadcast for Frisco or RR. He's a talent and might make if back to when he successfully closed innings broadcasts

 

[donaldson79]

I guess this confirms a lot of folks suspicions.

Reports: Cocaine in Fernandez's system at crash